Trespass Charges Dropped Against NEK Publisher

The state has dismissed
trespass charges against a Northeast Kingdom newspaper publisher who was arrested last year while
he was covering an anti-wind protest.

Barton Chronicle Publisher
Chris Braithwaite was arrested after he refused to leave the scene of a Dec. 5 demonstration
against Green Mountain Power's Lowell wind project.

On Wednesday, the state
dropped the case. But Braithwaite says the evidence explaining that decision is
under court seal.

"It is my hope that journalists
who find themselves in a similar situation will bear this case in mind when
they are ordered to leave the scene on an important public event," Braithwaite
said in a statement.

"I regret that the documents
which would help to explain the state's decision to dismiss my case remain
under court seal," he continued. "The Chronicle has asked the court to release
these documents, and I hope that my colleagues in journalism will join me in an
effort to make this information public."

Braithwaite was scheduled to
go on trial next week. But this week his lawyer filed a motion to dismiss, saying
the state would be unable to show that GMP had not given Braithwaite permission to be on the property as a
working journalist.